Studying biodiversity in the Antarctic

Using powerful new genetic and computational approaches, this project aims at addressing a major, unresolved question in modern biology: how has life evolved and spread around the Antarctic region, both in the past and today? I

Mites crawling amongst-the collected lichens.

The Functional Biogeography of the Antarctic Project completed successful sampling in the 2016‐2017 Antarctic field season as part of the ACE Cruise. We collected material from across the sub‐Antarctic and Antarctica. This included rarely visited sites such as Mt Siple. We have discovered what seems to be new species of arthropods from Antarctica. For example, what is likely a new species of mite from Mt Siple. We also know that the geological age of sites and their conditions influence diversity. Older, warmer sites have more species. Colder, younger ones have less.

A rock covered with lichen, collected on Mount Siple.

DNA from the species collected in our samples is now being analysed using sophisticated modern approaches. We expect to show some remarkable, unanticipated connections of populations across the region. The plants and animals of these islands have moved around more extensively than we previously thought. For the alien species, our preliminary genetic work suggests that more species might have been introduced than previously recorded.

Principal Investigator (PI)

Steven L Chown

Monash University
Australia

Settling Decades of Debate:
A Dynamic, Functional Biogeography of the sub-Antarctic